Although I have written several children’s books myself and love the genre, I have spent a considerable amount of time away from reading children’s literature due to my seminary courses, full-time job, and all the rest. But when my friend recommended this book to me a while ago, I saw it as a blessed escape from my deep-thinking textbooks and used it as my bedtime reading. And I am certainly glad I did.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane was everything that a children’s book should be: adventurous, mysterious, fanciful, and occasionally quite disturbing, but always with a moral lesson attached that leaves the child (or adult) thinking about attitudes that really matter. In the case of Edward Tulane, those attitudes are love, relationships, and loyalty. This is a book I plan to read to my son when he is old enough, and I hope he finds as much joy in it as I found.

Upon finishing this book, I ordered the film version of The Tale of Despereaux to see if Kate DiCamillo’s teaching style is consistent from book to book, and I do believe it is. She has a way of captivating her audience into the fanciful worlds she creates, not only to entertain, but also to guide. She is a gifted author whom I plan to follow, and I recommend her to anyone who wants to give a child a great story with a good message.